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Mexican Giant Redknee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi)

Brachypelma smithi

The TRUE Brachypelma smithi, recently renamed (or rather, restored) as 'Mexican Giant Redknee Tarantula'. After decades of total confusion in which the B. hamorii was sold as smithi, the real original smithi of Cambridge (1897) has re-emerged. More massive and darker than the hamorii, it boasts (6.3-6.7 inches legspan) and a slightly more reactive temperament. It also sports red/orange legs, but the V of demarcation on the knees is visually different and the colors are often more opaque but on a more giant and robust body.

Taxonomy
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Theraphosidae
Subfamily:Theraphosinae
Genus:Brachypelma
Species:Brachypelma smithi

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

55 - 70 %

Day temperature

24 - 28 °C

Night temperature

20 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: The World Spider Catalog lists Mexico as the distribution of Brachypelma smithi. The cited taxonomic record does not describe habitat or captive environmental conditions.
Taxonomy and Genetics: The World Spider Catalog lists Brachypelma smithi (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) as an accepted species in the family Theraphosidae. The cited record does not report a genetic result for this species.
Behaviour and Habits: The cited taxonomic record provides no species-specific behavioural observations; none are inferred here.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: The cited taxonomic record provides no morphological measurements or sexual-dimorphism data; none are inferred here.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: CITES guidance reports Brachypelma smithi as fossorial and states that it modifies previously excavated burrows or self-excavates its own. This natural-history observation does not establish enclosure dimensions, substrate depth, materials, or a captive setup protocol.
Lighting and Heating: CITES guidance reports that the species inhabits subtropical dry thorn and deciduous secondary forest of lowlands near Mexico's Pacific coast. This natural-habitat statement does not set a lighting or heating schedule for captivity.
Humidity and Hydration: The cited guidance does not quantify a captive humidity target or hydration protocol.
Feeding and Supplementation: The cited guidance does not document captive diet, feeding frequency, quantities, or supplementation.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The cited guidance does not provide a cohabitation recommendation.
Health and Common Diseases: The cited guidance does not provide clinical disease, treatment, or veterinary-management guidance.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Messico (Habitat limitato alle aride savane costiere dello stato di Guerrero).

Origin

Tropical oceans and reefsCentral America and Caribbean

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
16 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 16 cm. The Herpeton Academy — Brachypelma smithi source reports a maximum adult measurement of 16 cm for this species, recorded as diagonal leg span (DLS). The taxonomic record consulted is Brachypelma smithi. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma auratum)

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma auratum)

Brachypelma auratum

Mexican Pink Beauty Tarantula (Brachypelma klaasi)

Mexican Pink Beauty Tarantula (Brachypelma klaasi)

Brachypelma klaasi

Mexican Redknee Tarantula

Mexican Redknee Tarantula

Brachypelma hamorii

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula

Brachypelma boehmei

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Mexican Giant Redknee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium